Homewares

If you're a plant enthusiast, no doubt you will have come across online plant phenomenon Johnny Jungle on your plant acquisition journey. Well, now you can stalk your next plant baby in person as the slick online store has just put down physical roots in Ponsonby Central. 

The Arts House Trust holds one of the most extensive collections of contemporary art in New Zealand. Located in the stunning historic Pah Homestead, in Hillsborough's Monte Cecilia Park, it is host to a regular rotation of art exhibitions from Aotearoa artists, with works selected from the 9000 plus collection and host to nationally touring exhibitions.

Coveted Italian brand Golden Goose continues its worldwide expansion and has now finally landed in New Zealand, opening its first store in Auckland on the ground floor of Westfield Newmarket. 

If you're a little plant-obsessed like us, and enjoy filling up your home (and your 'Gram) with gorgeous greenery, then Babylon Store has got you covered. 

New Zealand is one beautiful country, that ain’t news to nobody. Sloping hills, soaring mountains, stunning lakes, waterfalls and endless greenery combined with the infamous harsh NZ light sure make for a sight or two! Capturing all this beauty in a soft yet dramatic way is German-born, NZ-settled, world-renowned photographer Stephen Romer. Through the lens of a camera Romer captures the subtleties that make our land special…The crispness of mountain air and the brooding nature of moody ocean waters. Looking to feast your eyes? The Romer Gallery, sitting across the road from the Auckland Art Gallery, showcases Stephen’s work, with large prints imposing against the sleek and simple background of plain gallery walls.

Former winners of The Block NZ, Alex and Corban have made names for themselves in the world of homewares. Their homeware store stocks quirky brands from all around the world, each with unique designs. Take a slice of your favourite cultures back home. Alex and Corban's style can influence yours to give you great interior inspiration and items without the hefty price tag. The store items are mostly minimalistic in style with natural tones, beauty, character and class. Skincare and beauty, curated book selections, beautiful and eclectic gifts, kitchenware, lifestyle items and more. 

If you’re after a cosmopolitan art nouveau style interior, Madder and Rouge is THE place you want to go. With wanderlust owners, their pieces are sourced from all over the world. Every item is not only stunning, but quality made. With French/Indian vibes, Madder and Rouge are perfect for all things artsy and bold with pieces that will give character to every room of the house.

If you're after elegance, class, and minimalism, Simon James is your go to. Specialising in woods, creams and metals, the pieces here are tasteful and classy for the home or office. They stock multiple brands and designers, all with impecable taste, to give you the best of quality, comfortant and beauty. Funiture, lightings, rugs—everything here is absolute design and comfort. As well as the Newmarket store there is also a Herne Bay Concept Store and Furnuture and Lighting Showroom on Upper Queen Street to check out.

If you're looking for effortless chic, look no further than Tessuti. Jam-packed with beautifully curated pieces, this Herne Bay store does minimalism like no other. For those who love a good shop, their store has a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy as you browse for the perfect piece to walk away with. Stocking everything from socks, perfume and jewellery, to linens, kitchenware and furniture, it's a must-visit for those looking to up their interiors game! 

Everyday Needs gives you life's essientials with thoughtful and quality pieces that will stand the test of time. Blankets, cushions, candles, pitchers and cups, books, kettles, dinnerware, lamps—their products will have your house looking sleek, natural and eclectic. They also have garden needs, beautiful house plant pots and other homewares to name a few. Stunningly simple, these items will give your house the minimalist approach with a ton of character. 

Walk through the doors of Allium Interiors and you'll find interior decorating heaven. Located in Newmarket, they overflow with contemporary, beautiful and stylish products with the feel of indulgence. Allium Interiors covers every room of the house—furniture and gifts, cushions, throws, rugs, bath needs, bed needs, furniture needs!  Allium exclusively stock the latest fabrics and furnishings by Designers Guild UK and the latest European, American and Australasian fabrics and wall coverings. But wait, there's more! Walk throught the doors and Allium can offer a one-on-one consultancy interior design service, regardless of your budget. Go in for a relaxed but pro offering. Style and comfort are coming your way!

Located in Ponsonby, Bob and Friends are the go-to for the best of the best in contemporary British interior design. The homely set up of the show room provides a preview of all the cosy possibilities within your own home. Shop through top designer furniture, accessories and homeware and create the home you’ve always dreamed of! 

Editor’s Note: This venue is permanently closed

The best things in life are comfy, which is exactly why you’re going to love every single thing at the oh-so trendy St Clements in Eden Terrace. From slick couches and contemporary dining tables to cool stools and Insta-worthy beds, this super progressive furniture store prides themselves on high quality and stylish homewares. Everything is functional, refined, and–above all–comfy AF.

Doughnuts and coffee—a standard combination, Olly takes things up a notch as an art gallery, too.  The Mt Eden venue serves up all the doughnut flavours under the sun, including matcha green tea, strawberry and cookies and cream, not to mention the old school fave of sugar and cinnamon. Wash it all down with an Allpress brew as you soak in the art.

In the world of interior and homeware, some stores have well and truly got it going on. Crave Home in Birkenhead is one of these stores. You’ll find gorgeous bits and bobs from prints, cushions and textiles to ceramics, planters and lighting—basically everything you could need and want for your home. Crave Home also stock toys, décor and adorable rompers, booties and sweaters for bubbas. 

If your walls are looking a little drab, get down to Ponsonby’s Endemicworld to pick up some prints. The store specialises in all sorts of prints: screen prints, letterpress prints, stencilled prints, photographic prints… You get the picture (pun intended). We’re big fans of their extensive Kiwiana collection from New Zealand creatives. Check ’em out at their Ponsonby Road shop or buy online.

If you’re after a lil something-something to gift to your mother, brother or lover, look no further than Ponsonby Road gift shop Iko Iko. We could quite happily spend hours browsing through the store’s delightful nick nacks, homewares and stationery. Here you’ll find everything from New Zealand-shaped cookie cutters and tiki salad servers, to inflatable flamingos and Justin Bieber posters. We guarantee you’ll leave the store with not only a gift for your loved one, but also a little treat (or two) for yourself.

The Poi Room Ponsonby is a Māori-owned Retail Art Gallery currently supporting over 100 local artists. The gallery specialises in Aotearoa-made goods including prints, Māori arts, glass, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, jewellery, books and stationery, homewares, and beauty and is one of the best Pounamu stores in New Zealand. In addition to their online and Ponsonby stores, you can find their original gallery at 17 Osborne Street in Newmarket. 

Pah Gallery is part of Pah Homestead, located in Hillsborough. The carefully selected exhibitions are astounding and complex. Pah Gallery’s unusual location, and unique exhibitions are inspiring to even the most un-artistic of us. Alongside Pah Gallery is its very own gift shop, showcasing talent from all over New Zealand, with a large proportion from Auckland. There's plenty of gifts and products on display—handcrafted, exquisite and always changing. 

Superette is super. Superette, Newmarket is one of our faves. The store itself is a beauty, decked out in delightful ornaments and prints—a pleasure to the eye. Glass cases show off some of our favourite New Zealand designer’s work, which is something we love about Superette. Supporting local designers in their dreams to leave an impression on the fashion world, has left an impression on us. We love supporting our fellow Kiwis, and we love that Superette supports them too.

Ponsonby has always been the neighbourhood of all things stylish and new. Superette does nothing but compliment this hip suburb with its alternative interior and fashionable attire. You can count on Superette to have the latest and greatest for both men and women, including but not limited to; shoes, clothing and jewellery. Superette never fails at having something that catches the eye, and what else can you expect when they sell some of the best designer brands in New Zealand.

Sunny Taka is slowly developing its shopping hub, and Superette sits top of the list. Walking into Superette is an outing of its own, beautifully designed items displayed so perfectly that you almost don’t want to buy them. But you do. Because you’re in Superette and everything is so carefully, artistically and lovingly produced. If you’re in the mood to spend a pretty penny, then you know where to go.

After a rather long stint in the shadows, the iconic Victoria Park Market has been returned to its former gorgeous self. It’s looking shiny and new, but with the exposed brick and community feel that made Aucklanders fall in love with the place all those years ago. Victoria Park Market’s re-development has seen a number of stores move in as well as some great bars and restaurants, old and new. 

Presentz on Richmond Road in Grey Lynn likes to do things a bit different. Like it’s name, the gifts inside are equal parts quirky, fun and New-Zealand inspired. Presentz is one of those gift shops that you look forward to visiting because the offerings are an eclectic amalgam of things that you never knew existed but somehow always wanted.

Saigon Crafts on Jervois Road in Ponsonby is a conduit for Vietnamese culture here in Auckland City. Working directly with Vietnamese crafts people and artists, Saigon Crafts imports hand-made quality gifts that truly are one-of-a-kind.

Shut the Front Door is about the coolest name, for a homewares store, that we’ve ever heard. And tell you what, if the interior of our house was this awesome, we would want to shut the front door and stay at home forever. Shut the Front Door has one of the best assortments of homewares, furniture, nic nacs and just about anything you can think of, but cooler. In our minds, Shut the Front Door is one of the best home stores in Auckland.

At first thought, Father Rabbit could be described as a homewares store. On second thought, it is so much more. Entering the door at Mt Eden's BLOC, is like falling down the rabbit hole into a world of organisation and modernity. Father Rabbit provides a range of organisational tools, kitchen necessities, home niceties, tiny clothes for those tiny humans in your life, and a never-ending array of items that you ‘need’ to purchase for your home. Immediately. 

Clean and green, Ecostore is all about making sure your home, body and baby are super-healthy and safe AND their products are good for the environment.  There's no nasty chemicals so you can use them with without worry. We've all seen them in shops around the country but their flagship store in Freemans Bay is worth visiting to get an idea of their full range - and to check out other environmentally friendly brands.

Melanie Roger Gallery works with and represents some of the best contemporary artists in New Zealand. The artists are both established and emerging, and Melanie Roger Gallery strives to support these artists and develop their careers, both within New Zealand and internationally. 

The Object Room is all about unique, Pinterest-worthy bits and bobs to dot around your home. Luke McCarthy and Timond Chu flung open the doors in 2011, and have since been stocking their Ponsonby store with an aesthetically stunning yet functional collection of objects.

Saturday mornings have never been this good! Ditch the cleaning and head north to Matakana Farmers’ Market for a delectable feast of fruit, veges, artisan baking, fine wines and more. Enjoy live music while eating fresh whitebait fritters sitting by the stream. 

Editor’s Note: This venue is permanently closed

Editor’s Note: This venue is permanently closed

Nestled in the back roads of Oratia, Just Plane Interesting is exactly that - interesting. Priding itself on the ability to find the strange and the wondrous, it is filled with retro telephones, old army uniforms, skeleton rings, lamps and more. To one side is a small, darkened room with earthen floor and walls that houses a mummy and monster for those brave enough to enter. One of the Auckland’s best kept secrets, Just Plane Interesting is a must-visit spot.

Bric-a-brac fills every cluttered corner of Junk & Disorderly’s massive, musty warehouse and is a dream for Auckland’s hoarders, collectors and decorators. While some of its offerings are a new take on the old, most are second hand. Whether you're after props for sets, one-of-a-kind pieces for the home or a forgotten childhood book, Junk & Disorderly has something for everyone. Expect to spend at least half a day—and some dollars!

Ponsonby Road’s Flotsam and Jetsam is a treasure trove of old and new, and is one of Auckland’s best retro stores. The place is stocked with vintage glassware, mismatched cutlery and other quirky knickknacks (the kind you’d find at your nana’s). Whether you’re on the hunt for some Kiwi memorabilia, or a print or two to vamp up your walls, you’ll find it at Flotsam and Jetsam. Grab a fresh Little & Friday donut while you’re at it—they get delivered to Flotsam and Jetsam daily. 

For a curated collection of houseplants and flowers, look no further than new Auckland florist and interiors store, Flora Rose Studio pop up on Jervois Road. A collaboration between Gemma Yeoman of Flora n Fauna Styling and Rosie Holt from Rose Tinted Flowers, it’s the Auckland store to find the perfect gift this Christmas. 

Word of warning—you’ll probably want everything in Indie Home Collective, so it’s best to just roll with it and buy all the things). Stylist Claudia Kozub and partner Neel Giri have handpicked all pieces that land in their Newmarket store, as well as designing a few items on their own. And they’ve completely nailed it. Whether you’re on the look out for rugs, kitchenware, lamps, or prints, Indie Home Collective is one of the best homewares stores in Auckland, and their eclectic collection of goodies is the perfect place to start. 

Shopping can sometimes feel like a mini mission, but Flo & Frankie make it considerably less daunting by packing fashion, design, lifestyle and homewares into one beautiful Newmarket store. We’re not surprised that it’s one of the best all-in-one shops in Auckland.